October Updates

Fall has always been my favorite Oregon season! I love the falling leaves and crisp nights. This fall, I have enjoyed seeing community members and continuing to prepare for the 2018 Legislative Session. I wanted to take a moment to share what I have been up to recently:

Around the District

Forest Grove City Council Presentation - Forest Grove was the last city to get my legislative debrief. I presented before the Council on September 25th on my takeaways from the Session and my plans for the 2018 Session. The Council was particularly interested in our work on affordable housing and homelessness. I am happy to give my presentation to any group, please reach out.

I was happy to attend the Meet and Greet with Maria Hinojosa, an award-winning journalist, with other community members.

September Constituent Gathering - I had a great group of teachers meet me at the Grand Lodge to discuss ways to improve education in our state. I have enjoyed these monthly gatherings, and I appreciate those that are able to come share their thoughts with me. I am always happy to meet one-on-one if you can’t make the gathering!

Community Action Leadership Lunch - Community Action does important work throughout Washington County. I was happy to attend their fundraiser with Rep. Margaret Doherty. You can see me bidding on an item, I am number 578.

Bienestar Tour & Meeting - I invited the Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, Margaret Salazar, to meet with Bienestar and tour some of their property in Hillsboro. Bienestar does a fabulous job providing housing for low-income families in Washington County. Their new Executive Director, Nathan Teske, is working on expanding Bienestar’s reach. As our entire state faces a housing crisis, I am glad that we have smart people working on creative solutions. If you want to support Bienestar’s work, please attend their fundraiser THIS THURSDAY at 6 PM at the Reedville Community Room (21141 SW Alexander Street Aloha, Oregon).

I toured the Forest Grove School Food Pantry this month. We need to support all families and ensure no one goes to bed hungry.

Hillsboro Career and College Summit - Every year the Hillsboro School District gathers community leaders, business leaders, elected officials, parents, and students together to discuss improving students outcome. We are lucky in this community to have great partnerships, like the Hillsboro Chamber’s School to Career Program, that set up students for success. We discussed ways to create more partnerships and ways to connect students to resources. It was a wonderful conversation, and I am looking forward to next year’s Summit!

Causa's American Dreamer Awards celebration was a blast! I am thankful for the leadership in the Latinx community, including my dear friends and colleagues Representatives Theresa Alonso Leon and Diego Hernandez.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - The DACA program was a game changer for many in our community. I joined Pacific University’s Student Multicultural Center for their candlelit vigil to honor those community members and recognize the fear and uncertainty they are facing. Our community truly came out to support these valued members, and I was honored to join DACA recipients, Mayor Pete Truax, Pastor Jennifer Yocum, Bridget Cooke of Adelante Mujeres, and many others. We need federal action on this. I have conveyed my support to Congresswoman Bonamici, Senator Merkley, and Senator Wyden. I am grateful that our federal delegation stands with us.

We had a wonderful conversation on the 21st!

October Constituent Gathering - This on October 21st meeting was focused on social justice issues in our community. We spent time discussing DACA and the inappropriate actions of ICE at our Washington County Courthouse and across the state. We all saw the troubling video when unidentified ICE officials approached a Forest Grove resident and county employee, and I am again grateful that our federal delegation is questioning ICE’s protocols.

I met with constituents that are SEIU homecare workers this month, and they shared the thoughts on the last Session and hopes for the next.

Spotlight on Policing and Mental Health

Oregon is ranked among the bottom of states in terms of access to mental health and addiction care. This has ramifications throughout our system, and it impacts our policing and law enforcement in a profound manner. Our police officers often work as de-facto social workers. They must assist our homeless community in finding services. Washington County’s Hawthorn Walk-in Center for Mental Health and Addictions Care was designed to work in conjunction with law enforcement. Additionally, Washington County Sheriffs are now carrying Narcan, a drug that can save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose. Law enforcement professionals are doing much more than keep us safe, they are a part of our service system.

Digesting the 2017 Legislative Session

Environmental Issues - I am proud to have earned a 90% on my Legislator Report Card from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. I supported many bills that will make a big impact on our environment. One I am most excited about was Senate Bill 5505, which included bonding money to keep the Elliott State Forest Public. Many of you wrote to me in support of this issue. We must keep the state forest as public land because it ensures the conservation of natural resources, the protection of wildlife, and guarantees that present and future Oregon generations have access to its natural beauty. Another highlight is Senate Bill 3, which establishes a long-term regulatory reform of suction dredge mining. This will protect sensitive habitats and streams from something that can have devastating impacts on young salmon, eggs, stream structure and macro-invertebrates. It will also keep motorized suction dredge mining equipment off essential salmon habitat.

Council on Educator Advancement -I serve on this Council, and I was proud to support Senate Bill 182. That bill supports the work of the Council and helps utilize existing education resources. It also transitions the existing state Network for Quality Teaching and Learning to this partnership as well as the existing Network Fund. With the passage of SB 182, the Council will development of educator networks across the state to bring together educator leadership and collaboration to strengthen teaching and learning and equitable outcomes for students. There will be a new scholarship fund to support pathways for culturally or linguistically diverse individuals to enter the teaching profession.

Legislative Work

Chair of Transportation Committee - I was honored to be appointed Chair of the House Transportation Policy Committee by Speaker Tina Kotek this month. I spent a large percentage of my time during the 2017 Session working on transportation, and I am glad to continue working on this issue.

State Innovation Exchange (SIX) Conference - I went to Washington DC with some of my colleagues to attend the SIX Conference. The Conference brings together lawmakers, policy experts, and community leaders who share a vision for our country: a thriving middle class, a stronger democracy with more transparency in our government, greater protections for our environment, and safeguards for our civil rights and liberties. It was an incredibly valuable trip, and I was glad to receive a scholarship to attend.

November Legislative Days - I am excited to see everyone at the Capitol again for the next legislative days running November 13th - 15th. There will be meetings for all of my committees: House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (Vice-Chair), Joint Committee on Legislative Audits (Co-Chair), House Committee on Transportation Policy (Chair), Joint Transportation Committee (Member), and House Education Committee (Member). I will also hear updates from my colleagues on the legislation they are working on, and take meetings with constituents, stakeholders, and lobbyists.

Upcoming Events

Senator Ron Wyden's Town Hall - Join me at Pacific University (Washburne Hall) for Senator Wyden's event THIS SUNDAY at 2:30 PM. I'll introduce the Senator and help facilitate questions. I hope you can make it!

Save the Date! My next constituent gathering will be Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Stay tuned for more details!

Women in the Workplace Panel - On Sunday, November 12th at 10 AM I will speak on the panel that Pacific University’s Center for Gender Equity is hosting. I always enjoy connect with Pacific students and faculty on these important issues.

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